Winter storm: Washington’s expected blizzard just a day away – CNN

Warmup act

But while waiting for the blizzard to come, the nation’s capital got sucker punched. A relatively light dusting left the metropolitan area a slippery mess.

With less than an inch of snow forecast, most roads were left untreated.

Virginia State Police untangled accidents by the hundreds Wednesday evening and early Thursday. An officer was hurt in one of the crashes. A person was killed in another.

Washington’s mayor asked everyone to stay off the roads so crews could treat them. But the damage was done.

Commutes home turned into hours-long affairs. Many drivers didn’t get home until well after midnight.

Even the commander in chief had to reckon with the wintry mix. Video shows President Barack Obama‘s motorcade using hazard lights Wednesday as it made its slippery way from Joint Base Andrews to the White House. He was unable to fly on Marine One because of the weather.

Thursday morning’s was another frustrating drive as some icy spots lingered and commuters left early to allow plenty of time for the ride in.

Also, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kentucky and North Carolina will see ice as the storm moves east Thursday into Friday.

Talk of a possible blizzard came on the same day the federal government reported that 2015 was the Earth’s warmest since record-keeping began in 1880. But big snows can occur even in the warmest of years. Despite the snowiest winter on record for Boston, the state of Massachusetts still ended 2015 with temperatures far above average.